Propulsion device



Filed Jan. 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1951 I J. P. OPPENHEIMER 2,533,376

PROPULSION DEVICE JuZz'zzs Z? Oppenheimer;

ATTEI R N EY Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT" OFFHCE Thisinvention relates broadly to propulsion devices for water craft.andflhas for its. object the provision fisuch devices'designed for propelli g Wa r. a-it. in. a; more eQQnQmical, and

efilcient. manner with the end ,in view oi.greaterv speed andmaneuverability r A further and very important object of themventionresides in meansjassociatedi with the propulsion device, adjustableduring; operation for; providinga sourceof steering, power. for. thecraft;

Another objectofthe. invention i the provie sion of a'propulsion deviceconstructed in such manner as to enableits, use in craft of veryv light.draft, eliminating certain propulsive hazards, thus greatly expandingthe use of power driven cr ft...

A further object. is the provision of a. power driven pro ulsion wheeladaptable for use either as a'stern mountingor in multiple as sidewheel: as or in one or morewells. under the cockpit A: further object isthe. provision of power wheels as above noted soconstructed.astofunction as a reverse drive without alteration of partsor methodof operation.

Further andjvery important objects-ofthe. in vention reside in, theyextreme, simplicity of construction and" novel. operating means that.require relatively few parts and is controllable either asa unit or asunits in multiple in a highly efficient manner.

Other and important objects of the'invention will present. themselves,duringthe course of the following descrip ion, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference refertolike partsthroughout the several figures,

"Referringto the; drawings,

Figure I is. a side. elevation of a propulsion wheel constructed in,accordance with the inven ion,

Figure 2. is, a front elevation thereof,

Eigure 3, is. a vertical longitudinal section thereof, taken.online 33ofFigure 2,

Eigure 4; is a plan view of:.the-whee1,..

Figure 5 isa. horizontal section taken online 5 -5; of Figure .1,

Figure 6 isa detailed enlarged plan of a propelling paddle withitsassociated power wheel and its action wheel and illustratingthemanner of steering,

Figure 7 is a detail sectionof one form of water lubricated bearingemployed,

shown.

Figure. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of propulsion wheel,

Figure 9 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 10 is a plan view thereof,

Figure 11 is a. vertical longitudinal section. of the wheel shown inFigure 8 and taken on line I ll l of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a detail section taken on line l2l'2 of Figure 8,illustratin the dual power wheels and. opposed action wheels.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to7 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a power shaft, driven'through themedium of any conventional prime mover, such as an internal combustionengine, not The. shaft 5 is supported in suitable fixed bearings, notshown, mounted in the cockpit of the craft. 'Ihe shaft 5 has fixedthereon for rotation, a power wheel, indicated as a whole by the numeral5 and comprises a disc 7, concentric with the shaft. The disc '3 isprovided with radial, equidistantly spaced integral arms 8; provided at.their outer ends with bearing elements: 9, one preferred'form of whichis illustrated in Figure 7. 'Rotatively mounted in the bearings 9, areshort'shaft members it, carryin'g attheir inner ends' discs ll, fixedwith respect'to the shafts. Ill and providedwith hinge knuckles 2, for apurpose to be described.

The numeral l3"desi'gnatesj an action wheel as a whole, comprising a"central disc section l4, havin radially extending arms l5 integral withthe disc and offset inwardly toward the power wheel. The arms [5 areequal in number to the arms 8 and co-extensive therewith. The arms I5are provided at their outer ends with bearings it, similar to thebearings 9 and support stub shafts IT having integral hinge knuckles l8at. their" inner ends. The knuckles [8. have connection with a hingeelement l9, formed upon discs 20'; As clearly shown, the hinge I9 isoffset from the center of the disc in a horizontal plane, for, a purposeto be described. The action wheel 43' is. fixed upon an 3 23 is fixedupon the inner projecting end of the shaft 2| and concentric therewith.Each of the discs 22 and 23 are provided with equidistantly spaced,water lubricated bearings 24 and 25, receiving both rotatable andslidable stub shafts 26 and 27, rigidly connected with and extending inopposite directions from the opposite ends of links 28. The stub shaftsare spaced a distance equal to the spacin of the shafts 5 and 2|. Stopcollars 29 and 30 are carried upon the free ends of the shafts 26 and 2!for positive limitation of sliding movement.

The discs 20, upon their inner surface are provided with concentrichinge knuckles 3| and, as clearly shown, the discs are substantiallylarger in diameter than the discs II and the mounting of the hingeelements I8 and I9 place these discs in concentric relation. It shouldbe here noted that the offset relation of the hinge knuckles I9 and 3|is equal to the offset of the shafts 5 and 2|. Hingedly connected to theknuckles l2 and 3|, are propulsion blades 32, fixed in a vertical planewith respect to the discs H and 20 and traveling therewith.

As before pointed out, the action wheel rotates in unison with the powerwheel, while in addition, the action wheel is adapted to move toward andfrom the power wheel, for purposes of combined propulsion and steering,and as shown in Figure 6, shifting of the action wheel outwardly fromthe power wheel, causes the discs 20 to assume an angular position,shown in dotted lines, with the resultant shifting of the blades 32 upontheir hinge connections I2 and 3|. A reverse movement of the actionwheel in the opposite direction causes a reverse angular positioning ofthe blades, as shown in dotted lines. The action is simultaneous and thedegree of angularity is identical throughout the several propulsionblades and their cooperating discs.

The bearings 9, I6, and 25 have been illustrated as one example of waterlubricated type and comprise closure plates 9', I6, 24' and 25' forretaining a suitable packing. The shafts l0 and I! are preferablyprovided with collars to limit any end play of the shafts, and as shown,the packing in the bearings 9 and H5 is compressed upon opposite sidesof the collars by the plates 9' and It. The shafts 26 and 2'! have thecollars omitted to permit the sliding movement thereof. It is to beunderstood that various forms of water lubricated bearings and othertypes may be employed as shall be found advantageous.

The operation of this form of the inventidn is as follows.

It being assumed that the propulsion device is mounted in the cockpit ofa boat, suitably enclosed in a well and with the propulsion devicesubmerged to about the point illustrated as a water line in Figure 3.Power is applied to the shaft 5, impartin rotation to the power wheel 6.Rotation is simultaneously applied to the action wheel 13 through thediscs 22 and 23 and connecting links 28. Since the power wheel carrieswith it the discs II and the action wheel carries the discs 2!], it isobvious that the blades 32 must travel therewith. It is essential, fromthe standpoint of economy of power and efliciency of operation that theblades 32 remain in a vertical position at all times to enable them toenter and leave the water with a minimum of effort. This is accomplishedby positioning the action wheel in an eccentric relation to the powerwheel and, since all parts rotate at the same speed, the horizontalcenter lines of the bearings 9, l6 and hinges l2 and 3| will remainfixed at all degrees of rotation. The drive connection between theshafts 5 and 2| is a positive eccentric drive, while at the same timepermitting of a shifting of the action wheel l3 and its associated partstoward and from the power wheel. As the device rotates, the blades enterthe water in a chopping movement and, as they move through their are ofrotation, water is trapped between the discs II and 20, preventing thespilling of water sidewise. Thus a maximum propulsion action isafforded, increasing considerably over the propulsive force obtainablefrom conventional paddles. It is well within the province of thisinvention to mount these propulsion devices in multiples, upon oppositesides of a boat or as a single unit mounted in the stern, depending uponthe amount of speed required. When it is desired to steer the boat tothe left, the shaft 2| is shifted in a direction away from the powerwheel, carrying with it the action wheel l3 and through the varioushinge connections, the blades 32 are caused to assume the position A inFigure 6, Assuming that the blade is moving in the direction of thearrow, water impinges against the outer or leading face of the disc 2!],forcing the stern of the boat to move to the right. During this steeringaction, the propulsive force of the wheel is still present, since theblade 32 and disc continue their force against the water. Steering tothe right is accomplished by shifting the action wheel toward the powerwheel, causing the blade 32 to assume the position B in Figure 6. Thusthe leading face of the disc 20 will be reversed and the impact of thewater thereon will force the stern of the boat to the left.

This type is used preferably as two units in wells towards the sides ofthe hulls in the cockpit. This steering action is then quite differentas the power wheels will be facing inboard and the action wheeloutboard. The result is that one action wheel is pushed in while theother is pulled outward. For steering in the opposite direction, this isreversed. I

It is highly desirable that means be provided to check the momentum ofthe boat and to accomplish this, suitable braking mechanism is providedupon the drive shaft to control the revolving of the unit under thedragging action of the water when the power has been disconnected. Thisbraking is controlled in such manner and to any degree, depending uponthe headway of the boat and the distance to be traversed. Full brakingaction means that the unit is held stationary and creates a full dragthrough the water. The brakes can be applied individually andcollectively, particularly if a differential is used in the drive axle.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 12, a powershaft 33 is mounted in fixed bearings 34.. The shaft 33 is driven in anysuitable manner by a prime mover, not shown. Each bearing 34 has rigidlyattached thereto eccentrics 35 and 36, oppositvely disposed from thedrive shaft 33 and eccentric thereto, for a purpose to be described. Thenumeral 31 designates a power wheel, fixed upon the shaft 33 forrotation therewith. This power wheel comprises a pair of spacedconcentric discs 38, having pivotally mounted therebetween a pluralityof circumferentially equidistantly spaced propulsion blades 39, providedwith integral stub shafts extending through bearing opening in the discs38. The numerals 5| and 52 indicate action wheels, slightly spaced fromand outwardly of the power wheel upon opposite sides. Each action wheelcomprises a, ,disghaying a concentric centrally positioned opening 53 ofa size slightly larger than the eccentrics 35 and=353 7 Each actionwheel40. Each link carries at its outer end a stub shaft 56, having arotative bearing in openings 51 and 58 of the discs and 52. As shown,all of the blades 39 are held in vertical alignment throughout theirrotative movement, while the various links 54 and 55 are maintained inhorizontal alignment.

In the use of this form of the invention, power applied to the shaft 33is imparted to the pair of discs comprising the power wheel. Movement ofthe power wheel is imparted to the action wheel discs through themedium. of the links 54 and 55 and since the discs 54 and 55 areeccentric to the power wheel in opposed. relation, it is obvious thatthe links will oppose each other throughout the rotation of the unit formaintaining the blades in vertical position throughout their travel. Theaction of this unit in the water is substantially identical to thatfirst described, since the blades as they enter the water, in a choppingmotion, will trap the water between the discs 38. This form of theinvention may be usedin combination with the first form, as forinstance, a unit of the second form mounted upon opposite sides of thecraft, while one or more units of the first described form may bemounted in the stern or cockpit.

It should be understood that the form of the invention just describedmay be constructed with but one action wheel disc and one set of linksfor control of the blades and under certain conditions, one centrallyplaced power wheel disc and; one action wheel disc may be foundsatisfactory.

The various discs and links are obviously formed of a suitablenon-corrosive metal and all bearings subjected-to immersion in water arepreferably water lubricated.

It will be understood from the foregoing that an extremely efiicient andpowerful form of propulsion device has been provided. The deviceprovides an unusual source of maneuverability to a boat. The structureis such that enablesits use in shallowdraft boats, to increase speed andmaneuverability. The several forms of the invention may be employed assingle units or in multiple. The use of the second and third form assingle units or double, as upon opposite sides of the boat would, ofnecessity require the use of a rudder. However, where two units areemployed, as upon opposite sides of the boat, steering may beaccomplished by independent control of each unit. Braking will beidentical in each instance. The structure is extremely simple, employingfew and simple parts and readily lends itself to simplification by theuse of single disc power and action wheels, is strong, durable, cheap tomanufacture and highly effective in performance.

It should be here stated that the action wheels may be arranged inhorizontal alignment with the power wheels as shown, or they may bearranged in vertical alignment, in which latter case,

cermect fons between. the action. w eel and bladeswill likewise be invertical alignment.

, It-;is to be; understood that the inventon is not limited to theprecise details of construction shown, but that it includes within itspurview whatever changes fairly come within either. the terms or thescope of the appended. claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1.,A propulsion devicev comprising a powerwheel having a plurality ofequidistantly spaced radial arms, bearings in the ends of the arms, aplurality of blades pivotally supported in the bearings, an action wheelrotatably mounted in parallel; spaced; and eccentric relation to, thepower wheel, said action wheel having radial arms co-extensive with thearms of the power wheel, hearings in the ends of the arms, pivotal meansin said bearings having connection with the blades, said blades hingedwith respect to its pivotal connections with the power wheel and theaction wheel and means for shifting the action wheel toward and from thepower wheel, said blades so mounted as to maintain their parallelrelation during said shifting movement of the action wheel.

2. A power device comprising a rotatable power wheel having a driveshaft and provided with radial arms, bearings in the ends of the arms,stub shafts rotatable in the bearings, discs car ried by the stubshafts, hinge elements carried by the discs, an action wheel havingradial arms, equal in number and co-extensive with the arms of the powerwheel, bearings in the end of the action wheel arms, stub shaftsrotatable in the last named bearings, hinge elements carried by the stubshafts, a disc supported by each of the hinge elements in concentricrelation to the first named discs, hinge elements carried by the discs,propulsion blades mounted between the discs and having connection withthe several hinge elements of the discs, a shaft for supporting theaction wheel in parallel eccentric relation to the power wheel, a drivedisc mounted upo the inner end of the power shaft, a driven disc mountedupon the inner end of the action wheel shaft, equidistantly spaced linksconnecting the two last named discs, said action wheel adapted to beshifted toward and from the power wheel, said link means permitting themovement of the drive and driven discs toward and from each other, saidblades adapted to assume angular positions under the influence ofmovement of the action wheel toward and from the power wheel, saidblades being at all times held in parallel relation to each other.

3. A propulsion device as in claim 1, wherein the action wheel ispositively driven from the power wheel at an identical speed, the driveconnection between the power wheel and the action wheel being continuousand shiftable with the action wheel.

4. A power device as in claim 2, wherein the drive and driven discs arecontinuously drive in their eccentric relation, the said drive anddriven discs provided with an equal number of equidistantly spacedparallel bearings, oppositely directed stub stafts carried by the endsof each link and having rotatable and axially shiftable movement in thebearings of the discs, the driven disc being shiftable toward and fromthe drive disc under the influence of shifting of the action wheel.

5. A power device asin claim 2, wherein the drive and driven discs areprovided with an identical number of equidistantly spaced and radially fdisposed bearings parallel with each other and with the drive and drivenshafts, one end of each link provided with a stub shaft having rotatableand shiftable movement in the bearings of the drive disc, the oppositeend of each link provided with an oppositely extending stub shaftrotatable and shiftabie in the bearings of the driven disc, the bearingsof the drive and driven discs being ofiset from each other a distanceequal to the eccentric offset of the drive and driven shafts.

JULIUS P. OPPENHEIMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Seivert Oct. 20, 1891 MotheralSept. 19, 1899 Juli Apr. 17, 1900 Exline July 8, 1902 Monroe Dec. 12,1911 Hill May 29, 1917 Dennhardt Nov. 3, 1925 Langenbach July 19, 1927Smith June 23, 1931 McCrosky Aug. 8, 1933

